Warning issued of severe weather

Winds are predicted to be strong enough to damage properties and even bring down trees in some areas.

Devon and Cornwall are expected to be the worst hit with winds up to 80mph (129 kmh) building up overnight.

Police said the A68 at Carter Bar, on the England-Scotland border in Northumberland, was blocked due to heavy snow.

Drivers in Cumbria were warned to not travel as heavy snow and abandoned vehicles had closed a number of roads.

Flooding expected

Snow is also expected to fall on the Pennines and seas are forecast to build with a big surge up the Bristol Channel, putting sea defences at risk.

The Environment Agency said there were 51 flood watches across England and Wales, with 15 in the Midlands, eight in the South West, and five in the Thames.

Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected in those areas.

Two people had to be rescued after their car became stuck in floodwaters on the A3121 in Devon.

Outbreaks of rain preceded by snow will move north across parts of the Pennines before turning back to rain.

Potential damage

There is the potential for squalls in excess of 90 mph (145 kmh) in exposed locations in the South West.

Marco Petagna, forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "Tonight and tomorrow very strong winds will come across Devon and Cornwall with gusts of between 70mph and 80mph (113 to 129 km/h).

"Those sorts of winds could cause problems, with the potential to cause damage, a chance of trees coming down, particularly with the ground being wet, and certainly roof tiles being blown off.

"It stays windy in the South West and south-west Wales throughout tomorrow and not until the evening will the winds die down."

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